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 The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is waiting for approval of
federal funding to add questions about antibiotics to annual surveys
of livestock producers as part of a bid to determine the
most-complete national usage estimates ever in cattle, hogs and
poultry, according to the agency.
The data drive comes amid increasing concerns among researchers
about the deadly problem of antibiotic resistance in humans. An
estimated 80 percent of all antibiotics used in the United States
are administered to livestock, not to people, but existing
government surveys collect limited information about usage on farms.
The enhanced surveys are expected to ask producers which livestock
were given antibiotics and why, according to the Animal Health
Institute, which represents pharmaceutical companies like Zoetis Inc
and Elanco, the animal-health division of Eli Lilly and Co. The
responses could then be used as a baseline to set targets for
reduced use.
Consumer and environmental groups said a White House report issued
on Friday failed to sufficiently address animal antibiotics and have
called for objectives to cut usage.
"We do know how much antibiotics are sold for food animals in total,
but until we have information on which animals they are used in and
for what reasons, it is difficult to come up with realistic and
reasonable goals," said Gail Hansen, a senior officer for Pew
Charitable Trusts' antibiotic resistance project, which works to
prevent overuse of antibiotics in food production.
A key component of USDA's plan, proposed in a report last year, will
be comparing antibiotic usage before and after the implementation of
U.S. guidelines for producers to voluntarily phase out antibiotic
use as a growth enhancer in livestock.
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The comparison is important because environmental groups like the
Natural Resources Defense Council say producers and veterinarians
may cite disease prevention as a reason to continue administering
the same antibiotics after the guidelines take effect at the end of
next year.
The USDA "continues to strengthen its efforts" against antibiotic
resistance, a spokeswoman said.
Some restaurants and meat producers are not waiting for more
government action before moving away from antibiotics. McDonald's
Corp said U.S. restaurants will gradually stop buying chicken raised
with antibiotics vital to fighting human infections.
(Additional reporting by Lisa Baertlein in Los Angeles; Editing by
Bernard Orr)
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